Research at Bayer

Research at Bayer HealthCare

Research and development at Bayer HealthCare focus on identifying and developing new active substances to treat diseases with a high unmet medical need. Bayer HealthCare, with R&D spending of EUR 1,847 million in 2009, accounted for 67.3 percent of all R&D expenditures in the Bayer Group.

In its internal research for active ingredients, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany* concentrates on four core areas: Oncology, Cardiology, Women´s Healthcare, and Diagnostic Imaging.The R&D activities of Bayer Schering Pharma are focused on the identification and development of new active substances for diseases with a high medical need.

Animal Health

The main focus is the health of farm animals (cattle, pigs, poultry) and companion animals (dogs, cats, horses). Research and Development activities in the Animal Health Division concentrate on antibiotics, parasite control and active substances for the treatment of non-infectious diseases. This latter category includes kidney failure, pain therapy, cancer and inflammatory heart failure.

Medical Care

The main emphasis in the Diabetes Care Division is on strengthening the core product lines. A combination of internal development and collaboration with partners enables the division to offer customers user-friendly blood glucose monitoring systems that meet the individual needs of people with diabetes. One of the main areas of research is minimally invasive and continuous measuring technologies, the long-term aim being to allow monitoring without painful invasive blood sampling.

Consumer Health

Research and development activities in the Consumer Care Division focus on the identification, development and market introduction of non-prescription products. Research activities concentrate on support for current brands and the implementation of product-related, clinical and regulatory development strategies. This work opens up the possibility of exploiting new technologies, additional indications for existing drug products and the reclassification of previously prescription medications as over-the-counter products.

21th edition

Tackling devastating diseases: Title story

Protection for weak hearts: New treatments for heart failure

Protein hunters in the brain: Molecular marker could support earlier and better diagnosis

Fighting cancer with tobacco: Personalized therapy - a new therapeutic strategy to combat lymph node cancer

Cooperation against cancer: Research alliance for better diagnosis and treatment of tumor diseases

Deep into the lungs: Potential new active substance formulation to help patients with cystic fibrosis

On the way to finding a top candidate: Bayer researchers build customized protein molecules for the treatment of serious diseases

The blood simulator: Virtual drug tests increase patient safety

20th edition

Fast track to safe drugs: Research programs for more effective drug development

Lungs under too much pressure: Riociguat: new active ingredient to combat difficult breathing

Repairs in the nanocosmos: Otto Bayer Prize awarded to Professor Thomas Carell

Glimmer of light for the eye: Artificial proteins to combat macular degeneration

Research networking: Bayer scientists involved in numerous international research collaborations

Hope of rapid pain relief: New approaches to gynecological therapies for chronic women’s diseases

19th edition

Anti-cancer medicine

A vice-like grip on the cytoskeleton: Sagopilone shows promise in combating tumors

Good detective work: Searching for active substances using RNA interference

Treating tumors by blocking hormones: New active ingredient for treatment of breast cancer

The replenishers: Cancer stem cells provide new understanding of tumor development

Formulation research

Visualizing memory loss: Early identification of Alzheimer’s

Tiny Trojan horses: Nanocapsules transport active ingredients directly to their site of action

Early protection: New study of acetylsalicylic acid in cardiovascular prevention

The sweet danger: Innovative blood glucose meters make life safer for diabetics

Multifaceted impact: Structural analysis of crystals is aiding in pharmaceutical research

18th edition

Substance which controls raised heart rates: Be calm my beating heart

Thrombosis live: A new microscope lets scientists see the vascular system in fine detail

Help for weak hearts: Search for active substances to combat serious cardiovascular disease

High-potential multitalent: Recent studies confirm: active ingredient of Aspirin® can protect against colorectal cancer

* The names "Bayer Schering Pharma" or "Schering" as used in this website always refer to Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany, or its predecessor, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany, respectively.